Swivel coupling



Nov. 18, 1958 c. N. B'EBINGER SWIVEL COUPLING Filed May 16, 1955 1222101220 6&ark:

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United States Patent SWIVEL COUPLING Charles N. Bebinger, New Philadelphia, Ohio, assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 16, 1955, Serial No. 508,376

4 Claims. (Cl. 198-95) The present invention relates to couplings and more particularly to swivel couplings for connecting two members such as conveyors for swinging movement relativ to each other.

In underground mining operations wherein the material being mined is carried from a continuous mining machine or a loader by means of a bridge conveyor to a main conveyor for moving the material to a point remote from the mine room, it is necessary that the various devices of the conveying system have free swinging movement relative to each other to effect the necessary maneuverability in the mine. The present invention relates more specifically to an improved swivel coupling between two such conveyors whereby there can be a range of swing up to 180 therebetween.

As the bearing stresses on the various conveyor elements and particularly those about which movement takes place is very great in such systems, it is a primary object of my present invention to provide an improved coupling of this general type which is rugged and durable in construction and which will allow swinging movement between two conveyors of up to 180 while insuring the proper delivery of material between them.

Swivel couplings of this general type have previously been disclosed wherein the pivoting of the elements takes place about a pivot pin. The stress on these calized areas in such cases has been so great that a fracturing of the pins results in the absence of extremely large diameter pins. It is therefore a more specific object of my present invention to provide a swivel coupling having an improved pivoting arrangement whereby the stress or pressure on the pivotal elements is distrib uted over a larger area thereof to thus obviate the difficulties of pivot pin failures arising in these prior disclosed swivel couplings.

In one embodiment of my present invention which is illustrated in the drawings, there is provided a guide plate which is cut away to provide surfaces extending through wide arcs which cross intermediate their ends. A pair of transversely spaced longitudinal extending recesses are provided in plate members which are secured in spaced relation below said guide plate adjacent one end of the arcuate surfaces. A pair of transversely spaced shoes, each having projecting from its lower side adjacent one end a pivot pin whose peripheral surface is coaxial with the arcuate end of the shoe from which it projects, are engageable with respective ones of the arcuate surfaces to maintain the pivot pin about which pivotal movement is taking place in the one of said recesses lying there opposite. Because of the fact that the pins are integral with the shoes and the curvature of the ends of the shoes conforms with the periphery of the pins, the ends of the shoes bear against their adjacent arcuate surfaces to act as pivotal elements along with the pivot pins to thus distribute the pivotal pressure or stress over a greater surface. Circular elements are provided between the recessed plates and the guide plate partially underlying the latter for normally preventing vertical "ice withdrawal of the pins, with means being provided adjacent the inner end of one of the arcuate surfaces for vertically withdrawing the pins and circular elements for uncoupling the connected elements. Stops which are positionable adjacent said arcuate surfaces are alsoprovided for limiting the movement of said shoes and thus limiting the swinging movement of the conveyors relative to each other.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of my present invention when read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a bridge conveyor the material receiving end of which is secured to mining apparatus and the delivery end of which is coupled to a main conveyor by means of a swivel con-- pling designed and constructed according to my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the plane of line 2-2 on Fig. 1, however on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view partly in elevation and partly in section taken on the plane of line 33 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar view, however taken at right angles to the view of Fig. 4 and on the plane of line 55 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 66 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on the plane of line 7-7 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is also a vertical sectional View taken on the plane of line 8-8 on Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is another vertical sectional view being taken on the plane of line 99 on Fig. 3, but on a larger scale.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, there is illustrated in Fig. .l a bridge conveyor designated generally by the reference numeral 10 secured between the delivery end of a loading machine 11, by means of a suitable pin and clamp arrangement 12, and a main conveyor 13. Reference will be made more particular ly to the connection between the delivery end of the bridge conveyor and the main conveyor hereinafter as the description of my present invention unfolds. It should be understood, however, that although there is herein illustrated and described the application of the novel swivel coupling of my present invention between the delivery end of the bridge conveyor and a main conveyor positioned therebeneath, it is not intended that the invention be limited to such an application, as the present swivel joint could be used in other arrangements, as for example for coupling the material receiving end of the bridge conveyor beneath the delivery end of the loader. As a matter of fact, the present swivel coupling could be used between any conveying or loading apparatus the parts of which lie in cascade relation where it is desirable to have a Wide range of swing between them. Likewise, although there is illustrated a belt type bridge conveyor, it will be understood that the invention is just as applicable to chain type bridge conveyors.

Referring now to the novel swivel coupling proper of the present invention as illustrated between the delivery end of the bridge conveyor 10 and the main conveyor 13, a dolly 15 is mounted for longitudinal movement along the upper surfaces of a pair of rails 16 and 17. of the main conveyor by means of pairs of wheels 18, 18' and 19, 19 which are suitably journaled on their re spective shafts 20, 20 and 21, 21' secured to pairs of: flanges 22, 22 and 23, 23 which extend outwardly from a guide or base plate 25. Plate 25 is cut away at one end to provide a pair of guide or cam surfaces 26 and 27 which extend through an arc of about 90 and cross intermediate their ends. The plate is also cut-out beyond the crossing points of said arcuate surfaces to provide arcuate channels 28 and 29 the outer walls of which are the arcuate surfaces 26 and 27 respectively.

A pair of plate members .35 and 36 are secured in spaced relation beneath plate 25 one adjacent one end of each of the arcuate surfaces 26 and 27. Spacer plates 39 and 40 are secured by means of welding or the like to the underside of plate 25 with plates 35 and 36 being in turn secured to the spacer plate in a similar manner (Fig. 3). Plates 35 and 36 are cut away to provide longitudinally extending recesses 41 and 42 respectively therein which open away from the open end of the guide plate.

A pair of transversely spaced supporting plates 45 and 46 are secured to the underside of the frame of the bridge conveyor 10 'by'suitable means such as screws '47, said plates being spaced from the upper surface of guide plate 25' by means of blocks 48 and 49 which are secured to said supporting plates and are engageable with the upper surface of the guide plate. Also secured to the underside of plates 45 and 46 are a pair of elongated shoes 55 and 56 of a sufiicient depth to project below the upper surfaces of plate 25 with their outer side surfaces 57 and -8 engageable with the respective arcuate cam surfaces .26 and 27.

A pair of pivot pins 59 and 60 are integral with and project from the bottoms of the respective shoes 55 and 56 adjacent the inner end thereof with the periphery of said pins being coaxial with the inner arcuate ends 61 and 62 of the respective shoes (Fig. 5). Pins 59 and 60 are positionable in the respective recesses 41 and 42 when the conveyors are longitudinally aligned, with a pair of disks 65 and 66, which partially underlie the guide plate, being positioned adjacent the upper ends of the pins to prevent the vertical withdrawal thereof.

From the description of my improved swivel coupling thus far, it can be seen that as the delivery end of the bridge conveyor lift) is swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, from a position wherein it is in longitudinal alignment with the main conveyor 13 and wherein the pivot pins 59 and 65 are positioned in their respective recesses 41 and 42, pin 6t) is held in recess 42 by reason of the side surface 57 of shoe 55 slidingly engaging the arcuate surface 26 of the guide plate. Continued movement of the bridge conveyor in this direction, assuming that there are no stops in the channel 29, as will be explained hereinafter, will result in continued pivotal movement about pin 60 with shoe 55 by reason of its length being greater than the opening created by channel 28 continuing to move toward the end of channel 29.

As the bridge conveyor is swung in an opposite direction, pin 60 will remain in recess 42 while the shoe 55 slides along arcuate surface 26 until pin 59 finally engages the nd wall of recess 41, wherein the conveyors will again be in longitudinal alignment. Continued movement of the bridge conveyor in this direction will result in the pin 59 acting as a pivot while the outer side surface 58 of shoe 56 slides along the arcuate surface 27 of the guide plate.

When either of the pins 59 or 60 is acting in its respective recess as a pivot for swinging movement of the bridge conveyor relative to the main conveyor, one of the end surfaces 61 and 62 of the respective shoes 55 and 56, because they conform in curvature to the peripheries of the respective pins 59 and 60, slidingly engage a surface on the respective arcuate surfaces 26 and 27 which is in vertical'alignment with the surface of engagement between the pivot pin and the outer wall of the recess, to thereby distribute the pivotal stress or pressure over the full depth of the shoe and pin. It can be seen therefore that with such an arrangement, the

normal wear on the pivot pin is greatly reduced due to this additional bearing surface and the difficulties arising from pivot pin failures in prior known devices, wherein the shoe is pivoted relative to the pivot pin, are obviated. As aforementioned, although in the illustrated embodiment the outer walls of recesses 41 and 42 lie almost directly beneath the arcuate guide surfaces 26 and 27 respectively so that the engaging surfaces of the associated pins and shoes are in vertical alignment, it can be seen that if it is desired to take all pivotal stress off the pins, a limiting or stop member could be substituted for the recessed plate to thus have only the shoe in bearing engagement with the guide structure during pivoting.

As can be seen particularly in Figs. 2 and 7, a pair of elongated flanges 70 and 71 are secured one adjacent each side of the guide plate 25 by suitable means such as screws 72 extending through the plate and an enlarged upper end portion 73 of the flanges. Said flanges have inturned lower end portions 74, 75 respectively which underlie the respective rails 16 and 17 of the main conveyor with the result that any transverse tilting of the dolly with respect to the main conveyor is limited by the engagement of the inturned flange portions 74 and 75 with the underside of said rails. Such tilting generally only occurs when the bridge conveyor is turned to an angular position with respect to the main conveyor wherein the overhanging weight of the bridge conveyor tends to so tilt the dolly.

As aforementioned, the disks 65 and 66 which are secured between the pivot pins and the shoes from which they depend prevent the vertical withdrawal of the pivot pins. In order to uncouple the bridge conveyor and the main conveyor, there is provided a means adjacent one end of one of the arcuate surfaces for vertically withdrawing one of said disks and its associated guide shoe. This means in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings comprises a cut away portion adjacent the inner end of channel 28 through which the disk 66 and its associated shoe 56 can be removed. A rectangular bridging plate 81, which has a plate member 82 conforming to the shape and size of the cut out 56 secured therebeneath by suitable means such as welding, spans the channel 28' and is secured to the guide late 25 by means of screws or the like 33. It can be seen therefore, that the bridge conveyor can be separated from the dolly of the belt conveyor by first removing bridging plate 81 and its associated plate 82 and then swinging the bridge conveyor in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, to a position substantially at right angles to the main conveyor and wherein the disk 66 and shoe 56 underlie the opening 80 provided in the guide plate. One side of the bridge conveyor can then be lifted to a position wherein the disk 66 and its associated pivot pin 60 are above the upper surface of the guide plate and then the bridge conveyor can be moved transversely and longitudinally to a position wherein the other disk 65 is free of engagement with the walls of recess 41 and the guide plate.

In those instances when it is desirable to limit tn swinging movement of the bridge conveyor relative to the main conveyor, there are provided stop members '87 positionable in the channels 28 and 29. As can be seen in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 8, bridging members 85 which are generally of an inverted L -shape are secured as by' welding to the underside of plate 25 of either side on channels 28 and 29. These bridge members not only add strength to the guide plate 25 at its inner ends adjacent the channels 28 and 29, but also form a base in which the limiting stop members can be secured. The stop members 87 are secured to the lower portions 88 of the bridge members by suitable means such as screws 39 and it can be seen particularly in Fig. 4, that when the full swing of the conveyors relative to each other is desired, the stops can be removed and the guide shoes 55 and 56 and 'th 'eii' associated disks and pivot pins can then pass freely through the opening 96 provided by the U-shape of the bridge members. When, on the other hand, it is desired to limit swinging movement, the stops 87 are readily secured to the bridge members with the guide shoes 55 and 56 engaging these stop members to thus limit the swinging movement of the conveyors relative to each other.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that by the present invention I have provided an improved swivel joint for coupling the elements of a conveying system with the arrangement of the parts thereof being such that the coupling is very rugged and durable. It will be understood, however, that while there is in the present application specifically described one embodiment which the invention may assume in practice, this is disclosed for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied and practiced in various forms and ways without departing from its spirit or the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a swivel joint for providing for a wide range of swing between upper and lower elements, a guide plate upon which an upper element is supported, said guide plate having a pair of elongated arcuate guide surfaces extending from spaced points, respectively towards a point of intersection, laterally spaced horizontally elongated shoes secured to said upper element having lateral guided contact of the remote sides thereof with said elongated arcuate guide surfaces, respectively, each of said shoes having an arcuate surface on the end thereof facing toward said point of intersection, said arcuate end surface of one of said shoes slidingly engaging one of said arcuate guide surfaces as the other of said shoes moves in lateral guided contact with the other of said arcuate guide surfaces whereby said shoes remain in constant engagement with said arcuate guide surfaces.

2. In a swivel joint for providing for a wide range of swing between upper and lower elements, a guide plate upon which an upper element is supported, said guide plate having a pair of elongated arcuate guide surfaces extending from spaced points, respectively, towards a point of intersection, laterally spaced horizontally elongated shoes secured to said upper element having lateral guided contact of the remote sides thereof with said elongated arcuate guide surfaces, respectively, each of said shoes having at one end thereof an arcuate surface, said arcuate end surface of one of said shoes pivotably engaging one of said arcuate guide surfaces as the other of said shoes moves in lateral guided contact with the other of said arcuate guide surfaces, and said arcuate end surfaces of said shoes being located thereon, respectively, so that said pivoting movement thereof lies wholly inwardly of said guide surfaces whereby said shoes remain in constant engagement with said arcuate guide surfaces.

3. In a swivel joint for providing for a wide range of swing between upper and lower elements, a guide plate upon which an upper element is supported, said guide plate having a pair of elongated arcuate guide surfaces extending inwardly from spaced points, respectively, towards a point of intersection, laterally spaced horizontally elongated shoes secured to said upper element having lateral guided contact of the remote sides thereof with said elongated arcuate guide surfaces, respectively, each of said shoes having at one end thereof an arcuate surface, said arcuate end surface of one of said shoes slidingly engaging one of said arcuate guide surfaces as the other of said shoes moves in lateral guided contact with the other of said arcuate guide surfaces, means for providing a pair of open ended recesses secured to said guide plate adjacent the spaced ends of said guide surfaces so as to be located between and to one side of said guide surfaces and with the open ends thereof facing inwardly from said spaced points, and integral means extending from each of said shoes engageable with one of said recesses to limit movement of said shoes outwardly on said guide surfaces.

4. In a swivel joint for providing for a wide range of swing between upper and lower elements, a guide plate upon which an upper element is supported, said guide plate having a pair of elongated arcuate guide surfaces extending inwardly from spaced points, respectively, towards a point of intersection, laterally spaced horizontally elongated shoes secured to said upper element having lateral guided contact of the remote sides thereof with said elongated arcuate guide surfaces, respectively, each of said shoes having at one end thereof an arcuate surface, said arcuate end surface of one of said shoes pivotably engaging one of said arcuate guide surfaces as the other of said shoes moves in lateral guided contactwith the other of said arcuate guide surfaces, means for providing a pair of open ended recesses secured to said guide plate adjacent the spaced ends of said guide surfaces so as to be located between and to one side of said guide surfaces and with the open ends thereof facing inwardly from said spaced points, and integral means extending from each of said shoes Pivotably engageable with one of said recesses to limit movement of said shoes outwardly on said guide surfaces and to pivot therein during said pivotable movement of said shoes of which it is an integral part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 152,714 Whiting June 30, 1874 2,604,201 Gleeson July 22, 1952 2,747,721 Long et al May 29, 1956 

